General Manager

General Manager – Boutique Coffee Shop

Location: San Mateo, California (San Mateo downtown)

Compensation: $100,000 – $120,000 base salary + equity ownership

Reports to: Ownership / Founders

Status: Full-time, exempt

About the Opportunity

We are launching a brand-new, independent boutique coffee shop in San Mateo that will serve as a premium coffee destination, event space, and true community hub. This is not another chain café, it is a thoughtfully designed, high-touch experience where exceptional coffee, warm hospitality, and local connection come together.

As the founding General Manager, you will have full operational ownership from day one. This is a rare “true owner” role: you will shape the culture, systems, and guest experience of a business you will literally own a piece of. If you are a self-starter with deep coffee-industry expertise and a bias for action, this is your chance to build something exceptional and grow with it and as a result you will receive meaningful equity that vests over time and share directly in the shop’s profitability through regular distributions based on net income as well as share in any liquidity event down the road.

Position Summary

The General Manager is the top operational leader and de-facto co-owner of the shop. You will be responsible for every aspect of the business, pre-launch build-out, day-to-day operations, financial performance, team leadership, vendor relationships, event programming, and community engagement. You will operate with a high degree of autonomy while staying closely aligned with ownership on our shared vision. This role demands someone who thrives in a startup environment, can wear multiple hats, and is energized by turning a blank canvas into a thriving local institution.

Key Responsibilities

• Pre-Opening & Launch Phase (1-3 months)

• Lead all pre-opening activities including hiring, training, and onboarding the full team.

• Source and negotiate supplies, equipment, and vendor contracts.

• Design and implement all operational systems (inventory, scheduling, POS, HR, etc.)

• Oversee store build-out coordination with contractors and ownership.

Ongoing Operations & Leadership

• Own full P&L responsibility: manage revenue, labor, COGS, and overhead.

• Handle all accounting, payroll, HR compliance, cash management, and financial reporting.

• Recruit, hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performing team.

• Maintain top-to-bottom mastery of daily shop operations.

• Manage vendor relationships and supply chain.

• Curate and execute a dynamic events program with assistance from ownership.

• Drive exceptional guest experience and community engagement to build loyalty.

• Operate independently with a bias for action while keeping ownership informed through regular updates and collaborative decision-making.

Ownership Mindset

• Act as a true partner and steward of the business — your success is directly tied to the shop’s financial performance through equity and profit distributions.

• Think and decide like an owner: proactively solve problems, protect the brand, and maximize long-term value.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in the specialty coffee or hospitality industry.

• Demonstrated deep knowledge of coffee or cafe management.

• Proven track record managing full P&L, accounting, payroll, inventory control, and HR functions.

• Strong vendor negotiation and relationship-management skills.

• Experience executing successful events or community programming is highly valued.

• Exceptional leadership and people-development skills.

• Bias for action, extreme ownership, and the ability to operate independently.

• Self-starter with outstanding organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Passion for coffee, hospitality, and community building.

• Must be eligible to work in the United States and pass all standard background checks.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary of $100,000 – $120,000 per year depending on experience.

• Equity ownership in the business with a clear vesting schedule.

• Profit distributions paid regularly based on the shop’s net income you directly benefit from the success you create.

• Health, dental, and vision (to be arranged through our payroll provider, not company funded)

• Reasonable and regular time off to be determined

• This is a career-defining role for the right person. If you have the industry expertise, the entrepreneurial drive, and the desire to build something lasting in the heart of the Peninsula, we want to hear from you.

Apply here, or send your resume and brief email directly to: members@theignitionsociety.com

We are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate diversity in our community.

Ready to own a piece of San Mateo’s next great coffee destination? Apply today.